**1. The Illusion of ‘Natural Sugar’**
Honey contains small amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it slightly more nutritious than refined white sugar. For this reason, many people consider honey a ‘healthy sugar’ and can easily be mistaken into thinking it’s okay for people with diabetes.
**2. Honey and Sugar: A Similar Impact on Blood Sugar**
However, from the perspective of our body’s blood sugar control system, honey and sugar are both ‘simple sugars’ with almost no difference.
– **Main Components:** The main components of honey are fructose and glucose, which are the same forms that table sugar (sucrose) breaks down into in the body.
– **Fast Absorption:** Honey is absorbed very quickly into our bodies without much digestion, causing a rapid spike in blood sugar. Its glycemic index (GI) is similar to or only slightly lower than sugar’s, which is still considered high.
– **High in Calories:** Honey is denser than sugar, so it actually contains more calories and carbohydrates per the same volume (e.g., one tablespoon).
**3. Sweetener Use for People with Diabetes**
– **All Sugar is ‘Sugar’:** All types of ‘natural sugars,’ including honey, brown sugar, agave syrup, and maple syrup, raise blood sugar and should be treated the same as table sugar and minimized.
– **Alternative Sweeteners:** If you want sweetness, using a small amount of an alternative sweetener that does not affect blood sugar, like stevia or allulose, may be a better choice.
Summary: Contrary to its ‘natural’ image, honey’s effect on raising blood sugar is almost the same as table sugar. People with diabetes must treat honey just like sugar and strictly limit its intake.
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